Gang plow



May 21, 1929. J. v. HOLSTEIN GANG PLOW 2 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed July 21, 1921 W ss May 21, 1929. J. v. HOLSTEIN GANG PLOW Original Filed July 21, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented May 21, "M29.

that.

JOHN V. HOLWIEIN, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSEGI-TCB TO 1% GQMPANY, O3? MGLINLI, ILLINOIS, fl. OORPOEATIGN F ILLINOIS.

GANG- PLOW.

Original application filed July 21, 1921, Serial No. 486,455.

Divided and this application filed March at, 1925. Serial No. 1?,212.

My invention relates particularly to gang plows of the type comprising a frame sup: ported on land and furrow wheels, and 'a-rrying a plurality of earth working devices, such as discs or their equivalent, ar-

ranged to be adjusted vertically by vertical adjustment of the frame relatively to such wheels. The objects of my present invention are to provide a new and improved frame comprising a. beam for carrying the earth working tools, the effective length of which may be changed as desired to accommodate a varying number of such tools; to so construct and position the disc carrying element or beam that it will present the greatest resistance to the vertical and horizontal strains to which it is subjected, and to provide for readily adji'isting the plow standards along the beam. 1 accomplish these objects as illustrated in the drawings and as hereinafter described. What I regard as new is pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of awheel supported gang plow embodying my invention, showing the plow beam equipped with three plows;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the plow, taken from the landward side, illustrating the position of the plows when in operation, but showing the plow beam -as of greater length between the front and rear frame sections thanas shown in Fig. 1, so that it will accommodate the four plows illustrated;

Fig. 3 is a detail, illustrating the rear furrow wheel mounting and the parts connected thereto; and

Fig. 4 is a detail, partly in section, illus trating means for adjusting the landward end of the crank axle on which the land wheel is mounted.

As best illustrated in Fig. 1, the frame of the plow comprises a rear member in the form of a casting 'l, which extends trans versely of the line of draft substantially at a Figs. 1 and 2. The inner faces of said block and cap are made rectangular to receive and lit respectively the lower and upper angles of the beam, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. As will be readily understood, by loosening the bolts 9, so as to release the cap 9 from' tight engagement with the block 8, the easting 1 may be moved longitudinally of said beam in either direction to increase or decrease the etlective length of the beam,- that is to say,-its length between the castingsl and '3, thereby providing for the at tachment thereto of as many plows or other earth working devices as may be required.

As shown, the beam 2 is square in crosssection, and it is mounted so that the diagonals of the square are respectively vertical and horizontal, thereby presenting the greatest resistance to vertical and horizontal strains. By making the-beam substantially square or rectangular in cross-section, and arranging it as illustrated and described, the plow standards may be readily attached thereto by means of clamps and without the necessity of perforating the beam, which is. objectionable because of the weakening effect of such perforations on the beam.

The numeral 10 indicates a plurality of plows each of which is mounted on a standard 11. in the construction illustrated,tl1ese plows comprise discs of the usual type, but it should be understood that various other types of earth working devices may be employed if desired. Each of, said standards is secured to the beam 2 by a clamp, one part of which, indicated by 12, is preferably made integral with its standard, and the other part 13 of which is secured to; the part 12 by bolts 13, as shown in Figs. 1- and 2. The inner faces of these clamp members are angular, to conform to the side angles of he beam, so that they fit over said side angles and by means of the bolts 13 above and below the beam they may be tightly clamped thereupon, thereby holding the vided, the parts must be completely discon-- standards 11 firmly in position in substantial vertical alinement with the beam. 'Obvi:

ously, by loosening said'bolts thestandards and the plows attached thereto may be easily adjusted along the beam to. regulate the width of furrow desired to be out, andthey need not be placed in predetermined positions, as is necessary where bolt holes are provided in the beam for securing the standards thereto. Also, where bolt holes are pro- I nected from the beam in order to move the standards along the beam to make the de-.

sired adjustment, whereas with my improved construction 1t is necessary only to sllghtly loosen the bolts 13 Furthermore, by. ar-

ranging the beam so that its diagonals arein ,vertical 3 and horizontal planes as described, the clamping devices aremade more easlly' accesslble.

The plow frame is supported on front andv rear furrow wheels, and a land wheel, the latter belng ad acent to the rear frame member 1.. The front furrow wheel, which is 1ndicated by 14, is journaled on the lower in clined end portion ofa bent axle 15 the vertical spindle 15 of which is slidably mounted in abearing 16 carried by the cast h1g3; Rigidly secured on the bend ofv the axle 15, so as to beheld against. turning 3 thereon, is a split elbow 17 and bolted to vided with a series of holes whereby the length of the bar 19 .can be readily changed as desired. The opposite end of the bar 19 is connected withthe draft bar above referred to, so that any lateral deviation of the latter from parallelism with the direct line of draft steers the furrow wheel 14 correspondingly throughthe connecting bars 18 and 19. Said draft bar comprises parallel bars 22, 23 the rear ends of which aresecured to a coupling 24 by a vertical pivot pin25, while their for ward ends: are adapted to be attached to a tractor. Said coupling ispivotally connected to a clevis 26 which is bolted to the drawbar 4, the latter being provided with a series of holes 27 so that said clevis mayzbe adjusted laterally as required. The plow as a 7 whole is steered by. the lateral swinging of said draft bar, as above indicated.

Extending transversely of the plow and preferably formed integral with the castping 3 is a bearing 28, and journaled therein is arock shaft 29 by the rocking of which the front partof the frame maybe adjusted vertically on the. spindle 15. To. this end the furrowward einl portion'of said rockshaft is bent to provide a tt'orwardly extendinof arm 30 which is pivotally connected to a vertically disposed rod '31, the upper end of which rod is threaded and extends through the opening of an eye-bolt 32. Said rod 31 is held against longitudinal. movement in said eye-bolt by any suitablemeans, asby nuts on said rod at opposite sides of the eye bolt in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3,. which shows the connection of'a similar rod and eye-bolt associated with the rear furrowwheel, as hereinafter described. Loosely mountedv on the upper end of the spindle 15 so that said spindle may turn freely therein is a cap 33,. and the eyebolt 32 is pivotally securedin said cap. To prevent withdrawal of the spindle 15 from the cap a collar 34 is rigidly secured to said spindle by a set screw 35 that projects through a horizontal slot 36 in the cap 33; It will be evident that'by the construction described, the front portion of theframe may be raised or lowered relatively to the front furrow wheel by rocking the roclz-shaftl29 in the appropriate direction.

Pivotally mounted onthe rock-shaft 29 is a bell crank 37, and rigidly connected to one arm thereof is a manually operable lever 38. Lo'oselysupportcd on. the landward end of theshaft29, by means of an arm 39, is a notched sector 40, the lower end of which is secured to a bracket 11 rigidly mounted on the casting The lever 38 is provided with a latch 42 of the usual type to engage wlth anyone of the notches 1n the se'ctor40, for locking said lever in its different positions of adjustment, and there by holding thebell-crank in a fixed position. Pivotally connected to the rearwardly extending arm of said bell crank is an ex tensible bar, indicated as j' a whole by the reference letter A, preferably composed of two lappedv members 13, 13 secured together by bolts 13". This bar A extends rearwardly. to an arm 4&1 carried at the furrowward end of atransversely disposed;rock-shaft45, and.

preferably formed integral therewith. The rock-shaft 45 is journaled in suitable bearings'in the casting 1 to rock about a trans verse axis. The makingof the bar A. extensible longitudinally of the plow :is necessitated to enable it tobe adjusted to accommodate longitudinal adjustment of the rear casting 1 on the plow beam'2, and the members-43 and 43 are therefore provided with a sufiicient number of holes to permit'said members to be secured together by the bolts 1 L3 in their. different positions of adjustment. Regardless of the position of the rear.

casting 1, therefore, the roclrshafto may be rockedby menas of the lever 38. j I

As best shown in Fig. 1.'the rear axle 16 of the plow, which isa crank axle, extends transversely thereof, and is journaled in the casting 1 so as to be free to rock about a transverse axis. Mounted upon the landward orcrank end of saidaxle is alandwheel 47, with relation to which the plow frame is movable vertically, for adjustment of the depth of plowing, by means ofthe lever 38, as willprescntly be more particularly described.

The casting 1 is provided with a roan ward extension 48 on which is a sleeve hearing 49, (see Fig. 3), and slidably and rotatably journaled in said bearing is a vertical spindle 50 which forms part-of a crank axle on the crank portion of which a rear furrow wheel 51is mounted. Pivotally supported on therear end of the extension 48 is a vertically disposed bell-crank 02, best shown in Fig. 3, which is reenforced by a brace 53 secured to the pivotbs of the bellcrank and extendingparallel with thelatter to its rear termination, where it is securely bolted thereto, as shown in Fig. -1. A vertical rod 54 is pivotally attached to the forward armof the bell crank 52, and its upper end is threaded and passes through the eye of an eye-bolt 55 fitted loosely in a transverse hole in a cap 56 mounted on the upper end of the spindle 50. Said eye-bolt is held in said cap :in any suitable way, as by a cotter pin. A collar 57, rigidly secured on the spindle 50 by a set screw 58 extending through a horizontal slot 59 in the cap 56, holds said cap on the spindle. For normally holding the rod 54- againstlongitudinal movement through the eye of the bolt 55, I provide nuts 60 screwed on said rod at opposite sides of said eye-bolt, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This construction isthe same as that hereinbefore described in connection with the rod 31 and cap 33 associated with the front furrow wheel spindle, and it will be understood, therefore, that by rocking the bell-crank 52 thesleeve bearing 49, and consequently the rear portion of the plow frame, may be vertically adjusted relatively to the rear furrow wheel. The rocking of said bell-crank is accomplished by means that will now be described.

A link 61 piotally connected at one end to the rear arm ofthe bell-crank152, and extending forwardly therefrom. has its other end connected to a strap 62 Which is rigidly secured to an upwardly extending arm 63 carried by and preferably formed integral with the axle 46. Through its connection with the strap 62 and arm 63 the link 61 is connected with the rear end of an extensible bar B, preferably composed of two lapped members 64, 64 secured together by bolts 64 as shown. The members 64-, 6d of the bar Bare provided with a suitable number of bolt holes so that the length of said'b'ar may be varied, as desired in the same way and for the samepurpose as described in connection withthebar A. Saidbar Bezrtends forwardly, and its .front end is tpivotally attached to an arm 65formed onior. securely fixed to a manually operable1lever-66which is pivotally mounted, adjacent to the juncture of said arm and levcr, on-a standard 67 rigidly secured to the rockshaft 29. These parts are reenforced and supported by a link 68 extending from the forward pivot of the bar B to the pivot of the lever 66.

The lever 66 may belocked in its different positions of adjustment by means of a floating notched sector 69'the :r'adius arm 70.0f which is mounted on the pivot-of the lever 66, said sector being further supported by vertical links .71, which are pivotally connected at their upper ends totheradius arm 70, "and at their lower ends .are' connected to a bracket 72 secured-to'the castingB. An ordinary latch of the usual type isprovided on said lever 66 to engage with the notches in the. sector 69. By actuating the lever 66 the front port-ion ofthe frame may'be independently adjusted vertically on the furrow wheel spindle for leveling purposes, as said lever maybe independently operated to rock the standard 67 and rock-shaft -29. When the latter adjustmentis made itdoesnot affeet the relation of'theirear furrow wheelto the frame as thelongitudinal movement of the bar B is insuiiicientto rock the arm 63 far enough to actuate the bell-crank 52, owing to the pivoted linltconnection between said arm and said bell-crank.

An arm 73 extends forwardly from the casting 3, and its upturned forward end is provided with an openingto'receivethe stem of an eye-bolt '74-. A coiled spring 75 islconnected at one end to the eye-bolt 74, and at its other end is connected to a loop 7 6 provided on the standard'67 a short distance forward from the rock-shaft 29. This spring aids in lifting the plow,ashereinafter described.

The raising of the plow as a whole is ac complished by utilizing the traction power of the landwheel 47 through the medium of clutch mechanism composed of two mem-- bers 77, 78, the member 77 of which is fixedly secured to said landwheel, while the other member 78 is loosely mountedon the inner end portion of the landwheelspindle,

as shown in Fig. 1. A controlling lever 79, mounted. on the axle 46, is adapted to be actuated at will to compel a clutching engagement of the clutch-member 78 withthe clutch member '77. This actuation of the controlling lever is accomplished by a cable 80 extending rearwardly from the 'di'awing tractor to said lever, said cable being tripped by a pull thereon by the operator.

A link 81 is pivotally connected at one end with the marginal portion of the clutch member 78, and at its other end is connected withan arm 82, :preferably formed integral with andextending upwardly andforwa rdly from the landward end of the rock-shaft By this arrangement, when the clutch members are disconnected the 'incmber 8 is held against rotation by the'lever 79, but

when said lever is tripped by the operator normally held against rocking by its: con-- nection with the bar A, which is held against longitudinal movement by: the lever 38 when it is locked to the sector 40, and as the link 81 is connected by arm 82with saidrock-shaft, when. the clutch me'mbei' 7 8 operatively engages the clutch member 77,1said link and the other parts associated with it serve as an abutment against which the rotative effortof the landwheel acts so as to cause the crank end of the axle-4E6 oii which said landwheel is mounted to swing-rearwardly, thus raising the rear portion of the plow. It will be apparent that this swing ing of the 'aXle 46 rocks the arm .63 on the furrowward .end of'said axle in a forward a direction, which forward movement is transmitted tliroughthe bar Bto the arm 'of the lever 66,1butas said lever s normally locked to its sector '70, the standard 67 on which the lever 66 ispivoted is forced to "move forward, and, by reason of its fast engagement with the rock-shaft. 29, turns said rock-shaft in a counterclockwise direction, which, through its connection i with the cap 33 at the upper end of the front furrow wheel spindle 15, lifts the front endof the" plow.; This rocking ofthearm 63 in a for ward direction asabove described also op- I erates through the strap62 and link 61 to swing the bell-crank 52 to raise the furrow- :ward side of the rear "portion of the plow on .the rear furrow wheel spindle. iThe coiled spring at'the forward end of the plow, anda similar spring 83 extending be-- tween a bracket 84 on the-bell-crank 52 and thelifting operation, as will be readily understood.

As shown in Fig. 4, the bearing for the axle-46 onvthe landward side of the casting 1 consists of a'bar 85 having a. centraleye86 in which said axle is rockably supported. The end portions of the bar 85 are threaded, and suchends extend loosely through holes 87 in opposite sides of the casting 1. The

threaded portions of the bar are provided with nuts 88, 89 which contact with the outer sldes 0f the casting 1. By loosening the nut 88 and tightening the nut 89 the landwardend ofthe axle may be adjusted reara slight angle to the line of draft to cause the plows to take more land, or if it be de-' sired that the plows take less land, it is evr dent that this may be accomplished by'loosening the nut 89 and tightening the-nut 88.

The rear furrow wheel is held against swinging by a rod 92 secured to abracket 93 on the casting land extending to an arm 9% rigidly secured on asplit sleeve 95 on the axle of the rear furrow wheel.

Vfhile I have shown and described my improvements as embodied in a plow. in

which the power derived from'the l'and- Q wheelis employed in raising the'plow's out of operative position, I, wishit', to be understood that they may well be applied to plows in which manualpoweris used for that purpose, and theclaims hereinafter made are therefore directed to such improvements without regard to the source of the lifting power. In my Patent No. 1,627,902, dated May- 10, 1927 issued on application, Serial No. 1-86355, of which this is a division, such features of the improved construction herembefore described as cooperate wlth power lift mechanism to providean-improved power lift plow are claimed separately.

What I claim as" my invention and'desire V I V 7100 to securerby Letters Patent, is

1. ln a plow, the combination witha frame comprising a wheel supported'front transverse draft member, adiagonally disposed beam secured to said draft member, "said beam being substantially square in cross section and having two of its opposite angles lying in a vertical plane, and ltS OtliGi two opposite angles lying in a horizontal plane, -and a wheel supported rcari trans verse inember embracing and clamped to said beam andadjustable longitudinally thereof, of plow carrying standards em. braclng and clamped to said beamnitermediately of said transverse frame members. the'lower end of the strap 62 which extends below the axis of the axle 46, materially aid 1' Ina plow, the combination with a frame comprising a wheel supported front transverse draft member, a diagonally disposed beam secured to said draft member, said beam being substantially square in crosssection and having two of its opposite an-j gleslying in a vertical-plane; and its other two opposite angles lying n a horizontal plane, and a wheelsupported rear transverse. member having clamping means fitting upon the upper and lower. angles of said beam, of plow'carryin 'standards embracing and clamped to said beam interme- .diately of said traiisverseframe members. 8. In a plow, the combination with a frame comprising a wheel supported front transverse draft member, a diagonally disposed beam secured to said draft member, said beam being substantially square in cross-section and having two of its opposite angles lying in a vertical plane, and its other two opposite angles lying in a horizontal plane, and a wheel supported rear transverse member embracing and clamped to said beam, of plow carrying standards having clamping means fitting upon the opposite side angles of said beam intermediately of said transverse frame members.

4. In a plow, the combination with a frame comprising a wheel supported front transverse draft member, a diagonally disposed beam, said draft member being clamped tothe forward end portion of said beam, said beam being substantially square in cross-section and having two of its/opposite angles lying in a vertical plane, and its other two opposite angles lying in ahorizontal plane, and a wheel supported rear transverse member embracing and clamped to said beam, of plow carrying standards having clamping means fitting upon the opposite side angles of said beam intermediately of said transverse frame members, said standards lying under and extending substantially vertically downward from said beam.

5. In a plow, the combination with a frame comprising a diagonally disposed beam, a casting clamped tothe forward end portion of said beam and having a transversely extending portion, a front transverse draft member secured at its inner end to the transverse portion of said casting, a fore and aft extending brace connecting the outer end portion of said draft member with the intermediate portion of the beam, and a wheel supported rear transverse frame member clamped to the rear portion of the beam, of a front furrow wheel mounted on said casting and vertically adjustable relatively thereto, and plow carrying standards clamped to said beam between said front and rear transverse members.

6. In a plow, the eombinatlon with a frame comprising a diagonally disposed beam, a casting clamped to the forward end portion of said beam and having a transversely extending portion, a front transverse draft member secured at its inner end to the transverse portion of said casting, a foretransverse members.

7. In a plow, the combination with a frame comprising a diagonally disposed beam, a casting clamped to the forward end portion of said beam and having a transversely extending portion, a front transverse draft member rigidly secured at its inner end to the front transverse portion of said casting, and a wheel supported rear transverse frame member clamped to the rear portion of the beam and adjustable longitudinally thereof, of a front furrow wheel mounted on said casting for vertical adjustment, and means mounted on said casting and operable to vertically adjust said furrow wheel.

8. In a plow, the combination with a frame comprising a diagonally disposed beam substantially square in cross-section and having two of its opposite angles lying in a vertical plane and its other two opposite angles lying in a horizontal plane, a front transverse draft member clamped to the forward end portion of said beam, a rear transverse member clamped to the rear end portion of said beam, and a brace connected with the landward end portion of said front transverse member and with the intermediate portion of said beam, of supporting wheels connected with said front and rear transverse members respectively, and plow carrying standards clamped to said beam intermediately of said transverse members.

JOHN V. HOLSTEIN. 

